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IPRI Review: Document No. 6
Pakistan-Russia Relations
Introduction
Pakistan-Russia relations have been marred by two historic legacies: first, Pakistan’s over dependence on the Western countries led by the United States, second, Indocentric approach of Pakistan. So far, Pakistan-Russia relationship is a narrative of misperceptions and lost opportunities. There have been many opportunities to improve the relations but were lost due to divergent approaches to regional and global security perceptions by both the countries. Apparently, Russia and Pakistan have left behind the bitterness of the past and are ready to reset, bilateral relationships.
Currently Pakistan and Russia are enjoying working relationship based on mutuality of interest and are also eager to enhance greater bilateral cooperation and convergence of views on various important regional and international issues. Traditionally, Pakistan has been aligned with the US, and India with Russia. Russia and India have historic ties, which are unlikely to break. Likewise, Russia cannot become a substitute of the US for
Pakistan because Russia is not in a position to offer it’s required level of aid, trade and defence support.
The main hurdle in the way of Pakistan-Russia relations are Indo-Russian ties. Despite its strategic alliance with the US, India still enjoys very good political, military and diplomatic relations with Russia. India certainly cannot tolerate that its old and time tested partner also becomes a friend of Pakistan. In addition, the US cannot afford that during this critical phase of Afghan War Russia gets closer to Pakistan and offsets the pressures that the US has exerted on Pakistan; exploiting the Russian President’s
1
putting off of his Pakistan visit in 2012 and yet undertaking a visit to India indicates that
Pakistan-Russia relations have a long way to go the reset phase.
Contour of a universal social space in present globalised world is based on
Pakistan-Russia Relations
Introduction
Pakistan-Russia relations have been marred by two historic legacies: first, Pakistan’s over dependence on the Western countries led by the United States, second, Indocentric approach of Pakistan. So far, Pakistan-Russia relationship is a narrative of misperceptions and lost opportunities. There have been many opportunities to improve the relations but were lost due to divergent approaches to regional and global security perceptions by both the countries. Apparently, Russia and Pakistan have left behind the bitterness of the past and are ready to reset, bilateral relationships.
Currently Pakistan and Russia are enjoying working relationship based on mutuality of interest and are also eager to enhance greater bilateral cooperation and convergence of views on various important regional and international issues. Traditionally, Pakistan has been aligned with the US, and India with Russia. Russia and India have historic ties, which are unlikely to break. Likewise, Russia cannot become a substitute of the US for
Pakistan because Russia is not in a position to offer it’s required level of aid, trade and defence support.
The main hurdle in the way of Pakistan-Russia relations are Indo-Russian ties. Despite its strategic alliance with the US, India still enjoys very good political, military and diplomatic relations with Russia. India certainly cannot tolerate that its old and time tested partner also becomes a friend of Pakistan. In addition, the US cannot afford that during this critical phase of Afghan War Russia gets closer to Pakistan and offsets the pressures that the US has exerted on Pakistan; exploiting the Russian President’s
1
putting off of his Pakistan visit in 2012 and yet undertaking a visit to India indicates that
Pakistan-Russia relations have a long way to go the reset phase.
Contour of a universal social space in present globalised world is based on